Obituary of Rosemarie Murphy

Rosemarie Murphy passed away peacefully on February 1, 2024. Born in Trenton, New Jersey on January 1, 1931, she was raised and schooled in New York City, graduating from George Washington High School in 1949. Daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Gais, Rosemarie is survived by daughter Lauren Murphy, and her husband Dr. Michael Toscani of Lawrenceville, NJ, and daughter Karen Maskin, and her husband Michael Maskin of Burlington, NJ. She is predeceased by her son, James F. Murphy, Jr. Rosemarie was married in 1952 at St. Elizabeth Church in Washington Heights, NYC, to the late James F. Murphy. From 1958-1968, she lived with her family in Charlotte, NC, then resided in Richmond, VA from 1968-1971. Rosemarie moved with her three children to Mercerville, NJ in 1971. She was employed by Atlantic Products from 1971-1979, and by McGraw Hill Inc., from 1979 until her retirement in 1996. Rosemarie's hobbies included crafting, reading, walking, exercising at the Hamilton YMCA, yardwork, and ballroom dancing. An avid collector of all things cute, she loved shopping at Quakerbridge and Mercer Malls. A great day was finding the perfect item, to give to family or friends, and all holidays meant gift giving! She loved driving her red Honda CRZ sports car, with her "Rosie Jo" license plates! Always dressed fashionably, there was no activity inappropriate for heels, including mowing the lawn. She traveled around the country and abroad with family and enjoyed many "Girls Trips" with her daughters, cruising to the Caribbean, Alaska, and more, biking in Rehoboth Beach, hiking in the Finger Lakes and Lake George. The family even got this city girl to go camping in Pennsylvania and kayaking along the Rancocas Creek. She enjoyed many long weekends at Lauren and Michael's "Hidden Pond" cabin in Thompson, PA. She was an exemplary mother and human being, who embodied the best of qualities: unconditional love, compassion for others, and an unending generosity that could be seen in her caretaker role for her mother, who lived to be 102. Rosemarie was an active member of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Church, Mercerville, NJ, and belonged to the Perpetual Adoration Society since its inception. She'll be missed by many friends and neighbors, especially Rocco and Genise Riccio, who provided great friendship and loving care over many years, and for the last year of Rosemarie's life, her caretaker, Monette Cueto, who provided daily assistance with love and dignity, with visits from her husband Jun Cueto also. Visitation will be held at Knott's Colonial Funeral Home, 2946 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08610 on Thursday, February 8th, from 6 pm – 8 pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Church, 3816 East State Street, Mercerville, NJ on Friday, February 9th at 11 a.m. followed by entombment at St. Mary's Mausoleum, 1200 Cedar Lane, Hamilton, NJ.